A recent study has found that people who use high amounts of certain artificial sweeteners, especially those living with diabetes, may experience faster memory loss and an overall decline in their ability to think in midlife. This new research highlights the importance of understanding how common sugar substitutes might affect brain health.

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“Low- and no-calorie sweeteners are often seen as a healthy alternative to sugar, however our findings suggest certain sweeteners may have negative effects on brain health over time,” said study author Dr. Claudia Kimie Suemoto of the University of São Paulo in Brazil. “While we found links to cognitive (thinking) decline for middle-aged people both with and without diabetes, people with diabetes are more likely to use artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes.”

What Are Artificial Sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are ingredients used to give foods and drinks a sweet taste without adding calories from sugar. They are often found in diet sodas, sugar-free snacks, energy drinks, low-calorie desserts, and more. Many people living with diabetes use these sugar substitutes to help manage blood sugar levels.

What Did the Study Find?

Researchers in Brazil followed more than 12,000 people, ages 35 and up, for eight years. They measured how much artificial sweetener each person consumed, then tracked changes in memory and other thinking skills.

Among the key findings:

• People who consumed the most artificial sweeteners had a 62 percent faster decline (equal to 1.6 years of additional brain aging) in thinking and memory skills compared to those who consumed the least.
• For the middle group, it was a 35 percent faster decline (1.3 years of additional brain aging) than the group who consumed the lowest amount of artificial sweeteners.
• In people with diabetes, higher sweetener intake was tied to a more rapid decline in both memory and global cognitive function (overall thinking and reasoning skills).
• Notably, the study did not find these effects in people 60 or older.

All together, the researchers looked at the effects of seven sweeteners: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol, tagatose, and xylitol. Most were linked to faster cognitive decline. Only tagatose, a natural sugar, was not associated with memory problems.

Researchers noted that the study had limitations, including relying on self‑reported food questionnaires, measuring sweetener intake only at the start of the study, and the possibility of misreporting or other lifestyle factors influencing the results. Dr. Suemoto said more research is needed to confirm the results and to study other sugar-replacement options.

Why This Matters for People With Diabetes

This new study found that people who use more artificial sweeteners, especially those living with diabetes, may experience faster memory loss and decline in thinking skills during midlife. These results matter because many people with diabetes rely on sugar substitutes to help manage their blood sugar.

The findings build on earlier research showing that regular use of artificial sweeteners is associated with potential health risks, such as higher chances of stroke, heart disease, and changes to gut health. While artificial sweeteners are generally considered safe in moderation, health experts continue to study their long-term effects on the body and brain.

If you have diabetes and are concerned about memory, thinking skills, or your use of sugar substitutes, talk with your doctor or diabetes care team. They can help you decide what’s best for your health and suggest other ways to enjoy food while managing your blood sugar.

Discover whether Splenda Brown Sugar is a healthy substitute for brown sugar.

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